Fainting (cont.)
Heart rhythm changes
Heart rhythm changes are the most common causes of passing out, fainting, or
syncope. While this may sound ominous, frequently the faint is due to a
temporary change in normal body function.
Sometimes, the heart rhythm change is more dangerous and potentially
life-threatening. The heart is an electrical pump, and if electrical system
problems exist, the heart may on occasion be unable to adequately pump blood,
causing short term drops in blood pressure. The electrical issues may cause the
heart to beat too quickly or too slowly.
A rapid heart rate or tachycardia (tachy = fast + cardia = heart) is an
abnormal rhythm generated in either the upper or lower chambers of the heart and
may be life-threatening. Should the heart beat too quickly, there may not be
enough time for it to fill with blood in between each heart beat, which
decreases the amount of blood the heart can deliver to the body. Tachycardias
can occur at any age and may not be related to atherosclerotic heart disease.
With bradycardia, or a slow heart rate (brady = slow + cardia = heart), the
heart's ability to pump blood may be compromised. As the heart ages, the
electrical system can become fragile and
heart blocks, or disruptions of the
electrical system, can occur, causing the heart rate to slow down.
Aside from structural electrical problems with the heart, medications may be
the culprit. When taking prescribed medications for blood pressure control [for
example, beta blockers such
as metoprolol (Lopressor,
Toprol XL), propranolol
(Inderal, Inderal LA), atenolol
(Tenormin), or calcium channel
blockers such as diltiazem
(Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiazac), verapamil
(Calan, Verelan and others), amlodipine
(Norvasc)], the heart can on occasion, become
more sensitive to the effects of these drugs and beat abnormally slow and
decrease blood output from the heart.
Next: Heart structural conditions »
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